I had cerivical surgery done in December of last year. Since then I can not lift my left arm above level with my shoulder and I don't have as much strength in it. The surgeon says I am fine and not worry about it. Apparently he doesn't care that it hurts to get dressed or anything else for that matter. I also had severe back pain in my lower back in Feb my husband had to call 911 because I couldn't move at all. They said I have degenerative disc disease. I went back to the same surgeon and he said it wasn't bad enough for surgery yet. I have been fine till the last week and it has been giving me a lot of problems to the point of debilitating. I have done everything I know to do. I don't want to go back to the same Dr since he doesn't seem to want to listen to me when I tell him there is something wrong. I also called him one night and he got mad at me for calling because it was after 10. Apparently I am suppose to be able to time when I am in pain and not inconvenience a Dr who is suppose to be on call. I have another appointment with another Dr a week from this friday. What I wanted to find out is there anything I need to specifically ask him on the condition of what is going on. I had the shots in my neck before my surgery on my neck and it did nothing. Years ago I had shots done on my back 2 times because all they wanted to do was pain management and not get to the source of the problem and they did nothing either. Please any advice will help. Also, I wanted to find out if they do have to do surgery does anyone know how and what they do. I know they went in through my throat for my cervical surgery. The pain I am having is severe in my lower back and radiates down my legs, mainly my left, and in my butt also. I am also having pain in my left side of my neck that radiates down the left side of my back. Thank yall in advance for any help and advice.

Hopefully the new Dr. will be able to give you more hope. I had cervical surgery over two years ago, and my surgeon prescribed physical therapy to help me gain the function back in my arms and hands. It helped very much, but it also takes a long time to regain. I'm still noticing things coming back this much later. You didn't mention whether you had any therapy. I also have ddd and problems with stenosis in my lumbar spine which my surgeon also said was not operable. However, I manage the pain with water exercises and massage therapy. I'm not on any meds. When the nerves aren't sending the proper signals to the muscles, they can really get tight and get lots of trigger points, which then cause lots of pain. If you search for things to do to help, you can find lots of things that make a difference. Surgery isn't always the best option.

I had cerivical surgery done in December of last year. Since then I can not lift my left arm above level with my shoulder and I don't have as much strength in it. The surgeon says I am fine and not worry about it. Apparently he doesn't care that it hurts to get dressed or anything else for that matter. I also had severe back pain in my lower back in Feb my husband had to call 911 because I couldn't move at all. They said I have degenerative disc disease. I went back to the same surgeon and he said it wasn't bad enough for surgery yet. I have been fine till the last week and it has been giving me a lot of problems to the point of debilitating. I have done everything I know to do. I don't want to go back to the same Dr since he doesn't seem to want to listen to me when I tell him there is something wrong. I also called him one night and he got mad at me for calling because it was after 10. Apparently I am suppose to be able to time when I am in pain and not inconvenience a Dr who is suppose to be on call. I have another appointment with another Dr a week from this friday. What I wanted to find out is there anything I need to specifically ask him on the condition of what is going on. I had the shots in my neck before my surgery on my neck and it did nothing. Years ago I had shots done on my back 2 times because all they wanted to do was pain management and not get to the source of the problem and they did nothing either. Please any advice will help. Also, I wanted to find out if they do have to do surgery does anyone know how and what they do. I know they went in through my throat for my cervical surgery. The pain I am having is severe in my lower back and radiates down my legs, mainly my left, and in my butt also. I am also having pain in my left side of my neck that radiates down the left side of my back. Thank yall in advance for any help and advice.

>>>>>> Hi, and welcome to the forum. You said you don't want to go back to this doctor and I agree that you should not go back. He isn't treating you with any respect or concern.

It's been my experience that Orthopedic Spine Specialists are much more apt to listen to you, and to explain things to you. I really urge you to find such a doctor rather than waste your time on someone who seems to think being a neurosurgeon is next to being God.

The back symptoms you describe suggest to me that there is a problem possibly at the L5-S1, tho of course, that's just an unexpert opinion. An MRI should show whatever is going on. Perhaps a bulging disc, or one that has herniated....could have some nerve impingement which is causing your symptoms. Again, I am NOT a doctor and not qualified to diagnose, I am simply going by my experience with my own back. I do think it is important that you find out what is going on sooner rather than later. In most cases, these problems tend to get worse over time.

I hope you will return and let us know how things are going and whether or not you find a new doctor.

I agree with Carol. Blow this doctor off. It took almost 5 months of suffering in bed to get to the bottom of my back and leg pain. Now, I have numbness still in my foot. I have DDD, but your symptoms sound like mine which was a herniation at L-5S-1. I have an mri on Friday since a lot of my symptoms are still there, which may mean more surgery. Diagnosis and treatment can take awhile. Doctors will only do surgery after everything else has ben tried like bedrest, time to heal, or epidural shots. Hang in there. Finding the right doctor you can connect with may be challenging, but well worth it. I know it is so hard to be your own advocate when you are suffering so. Keep us posted.